Bereta finding success in the City of Angels

It used to be Hollywood had to discover you to make a living in show business. Not anymore. Ask Joe Bereta.

Bereta is the head writer for SourceFed, a Los Angeles-based YouTube Channel that mixes real news with plenty of comedy. The result is a show that has close to 1 million followers.

“It’s the Daily Show meets E!Entertainment meets YouTube,” the 2000 Columbia Falls graduate said last week.

Bereta began his career in comedy writing shortly after graduating from Gonzaga University with a degree in broadcast studies. Along with partner Luke Barats, they wrote two pilots for NBC. The first was a comedy sketch. The second, written a few years later, was about two roommates who lived above a bar. Then one day, one of the roommates’ old girlfriends shows up with his baby.

Both shows were never produced, but Bereta said it was great. He got paid pretty well and learned a lot about the business.

“It was incredibly educational,” he said.

Bereta’s also done a fair amount of acting. He’s been in commercials for Natural Ice, Bud Light and Kentucky Fried Chicken. He just needs to do a Wal-Mart commercial to complete what he jokes is the “white trash trifecta.”

Life in L.A. isn’t exactly glamorous. He gets to work at 6 a.m., and by the end of the day he’s produced and written five pieces that combine comedy and news.

“I’m making a living off of YouTube,” he said.

He doesn’t go to posh Hollywood parties or live the night life.

“I’m too old,” he said.

At 30, he has a family and life is good. His wife Heather is a stay-at-home mom who cares for their 5-year-old daughter Hayden.

Bereta’s work can be viewed online at www.youtube.com/user/SourceFed. His work with partner Barats can be viewed online at www.youtube.com/user/BaratsAndBereta.